Verizon releases official statement on Unlimited Data plans

Yesterday the Verizon customers world was shattered when their CFO mentioned that all grandfathered unlimited data plans would be losing their precious data in favor of tiered shared data plans. With a huge outcry from the public today Verizon has released an official statement on the matter. While this doesn’t fully clear things up, it shows they’ve noticed the outburst and are looking into how they’ll handle the situation.

Basically they’ve assured us that users won’t be seeing their precious unlimited data plans ripped away from their death grip hands, instead Verizon will be waiting for contracts to end, upgrades to come and users will be required to switch. So yes, you’ll still lose that unlimited grandfathered plan, but not any time soon. If you’re using an unlimited plan now nothing will change, but when your contract ends and you re-sign or upgrade to a new 4G LTE device you’ll be switched to the tiered shared plans, you won’t be able to carry the grandfathered plan over.

“As we have stated publicly, Verizon Wireless has been evaluating its data pricing structure for some time. Customers have told us that they want to share data, similar to how they share minutes today. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option later this year.

We will share specific details of the plans and any related policy changes well in advance of their introduction, so customers will have time to evaluate their choices and make the best decisions for their wireless service. It is our goal and commitment to continue to provide customers with the same high value service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless.” – Brenda Raney for Verizon

From our understanding if users stay on their older 3G plans and 3G phones and don’t upgrade, or sign a new contract they’ll be fine. Once you are ready to move on to a new device you’ll be required to switch to the new plans. For now this won’t be effecting anyone, and Verizon will give users plenty of time when they start switching to shared data late this summer. If you’ve recently bought a 4G LTE phone and still have that grandfathered plan you might be safe for a few years til you need an upgrade.

This doesn’t answer all of our questions, but might help a few of you calm down and not be so upset. I personally am a fan of shared data, so long as Verizon goes about it the correct way. Thoughts?